Disclosed herein is a micro-electro mechanical (mems) device including a substrate, and a mems mirror stack on the substrate. A first bonding layer seals against ingress of environmental contaminants and mechanically anchors the mems mirror stack to the substrate. A cap layer is formed on the mems mirror stack. A second boding layer seals against ingress of environmental contaminants and mechanically anchors the cap layer to the mems mirror stack.
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1. A micro-electro mechanical system (mems) device, comprising:
a substrate;
a mems mirror stack on the substrate and having a width greater than a width of the substrate in at least one direction;
a first bonding layer sealing against ingress of environmental contaminants and mechanically anchoring the mems mirror stack to the substrate;
an interconnection layer stacked on the first bonding layer and in contact with the mems mirror stack;
a support layer stacked on the first bonding layer;
a transparent cap layer on the mems mirror stack;
a second bonding boding layer sealing against ingress of environmental contaminants and mechanically anchoring the transparent cap layer to the mems mirror stack;
at least one pad extending away from the mems mirror stack opposite the transparent cap layer and left exposed by the mems mirror stack having a width greater than the width of the substrate in the at least one direction; and
a metal layer running from the mems mirror stack, through the interconnection layer, through the support layer, and to the at least one pad.
9. A micro-electro mechanical system (mems) device, comprising:
a substrate having a first recess defined therein;
a first bonding layer disposed on the substrate;
a support layer stacked on the first bonding layer;
a mems mirror stack disposed on the first bonding layer and having a width greater than a width of the substrate in at least one direction;
an interconnection layer stacked on the first bonding layer and in contact with the mems mirror stack;
a second bonding layer disposed on the mems mirror stack; and
a transparent cap layer disposed on the second bonding layer and having a second recess defined therein;
wherein the mems mirror stack includes a rotor that rotates to travel through the first and second recesses;
wherein the first and second bonding layers environmentally seal against environmental egress into the first and second recesses;
at least one pad extending away from the mems mirror stack opposite the transparent cap layer and left exposed by the mems mirror stack having a width greater than the width of the substrate in the at least one direction; and
a metal layer running from the mems mirror stack, through the interconnection layer, through the support layer, and to the at least one pad.
2. The mems device of
a stator mechanically joined to the interconnection layer; and
a rotor associated with the stator and configured to rotate with respect thereto.
3. The mems device of
4. The mems device of
5. The mems device of
8. The mems device of
10. The mems device of
a stator disposed on and bonded to the interconnection layer;
a rotor layer disposed on the interconnection layer; and
a mirror disposed on the rotor layer;
wherein the second bonding layer is disposed on non-rotating portions of the rotor layer.
11. The mems device of
a rotor-stator layer disposed on the interconnection layer, the rotor-stator layer containing collocated rotor and stator elements; and
a mirror disposed on the rotor element of the rotor-stator layer;
wherein the second bonding layer is disposed on non-rotating portions of the rotor-stator layer.
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This disclosure relates to MEMS mirrors for scanning or deflecting light beams, and, in particular, to hermetically sealed MEMS mirror packages and methods of manufacturing same.
Certain devices such as small volume projectors, wafer defect scanners, laser printers, document scanners, projectors and the like often employ one or more collimated laser beams that scan across a flat surface in a straight line path. These devices employ tilting mirrors to deflect the beam to perform the scanning. These tilting mirrors may be, or may include, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (“MEMS”) devices.
A typical MEMS mirror includes a static portion, called a stator, and a rotating portion, called a rotor. The rotor rotates with respect to the stator, and serves as or carries the surface that performs the mirroring operation. Where electrostatic forces are used to cause the rotation of the rotor, drawbacks result from operation in ambient air pressure. It is thus desirable for the rotor to rotate in a low pressure or vacuum environment. Unfortunately, the designs of conventional MEMS mirror packages with an internal vacuum environment are complex, and the methods of manufacture even more complex, rendering the cost to produce such designs prohibitive for use in many scenarios.
Therefore, new designs of MEMS mirror packages with an internal vacuum environment, and new ways of manufacturing same, are desirable.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Disclosed herein is a micro-electro mechanical (MEMS) device including a substrate and a MEMS mirror stack on the substrate. A first bonding layer seals against ingress of environmental contaminants and mechanically anchors the MEMS mirror stack to the substrate. A cap layer is on the MEMS mirror stack, and a second boding layer seals against ingress of environmental contaminants and mechanically anchors the cap layer to the MEMS mirror stack.
The MEMS mirror stack may include a support layer in contact with the first bonding layer, a stator mechanically joined to the support layer, and a rotor associated with the stator and configured to rotate with respect hereto. The support layer may have an interconnection layer formed therein.
The substrate may have a first recess formed therein, the cap layer may have a second recess formed therein, and the first and second recesses may form upper and lower chambers through which at least a portion of the rotor rotates when rotating with respect to the stator. The air pressure within the upper and lower chambers may be within a threshold of vacuum. The stator and rotor may be collocated such that the rotor rotates in a plane occupied by the stator. The rotor may rotate in a plane not occupied by the stator.
The cap layer may be glass, and may have a width less than a width of the MEMS mirror stack in at least one direction.
The MEMS mirror stack may have at least one pad on a surface thereof left exposed by the cap layer having the lesser width than the MEMS mirror stack.
The substrate may have a width less than a width of the MEMS mirror stack in at least one direction. The MEMS mirror stack may have at least one pad on a surface thereof left exposed by the substrate having the lesser width than the MEMS mirror stack.
A method aspect is directed to a method of making a micro-electro mechanical (MEMS) device. The method includes forming a MEMS mirror stack on a handle layer, applying a first bonding layer to the MEMS mirror stack, and disposing a substrate on the first bonding layer such that the MEMS mirror stack is mechanically anchored to the substrate and so as to seal against ingress of environmental contaminants. The method also includes removing the handle layer, applying a second bonding layer to the MEMS mirror stack, and disposing a cap layer on the second bonding layer such that the cap layer is mechanically anchored to the MEMS mirror stack and so as to seal against ingress of environmental contaminants.
Forming the MEMS mirror stack on the handle layer may include disposing a silicon layer on the handle layer, disposing a first insulating layer on the silicon layer, etching portions of the first insulating layer, depositing a first conductive layer on the first insulating layer and into the etched portions thereof, and depositing a second insulating layer on the first conductive layer.
Forming the MEMS mirror stack on the handle layer may include removing at least one portion of the second insulating layer, first conductive layer, and first insulating layer so as to form a lower chamber.
Applying the first bonding layer to the MEMS mirror stack may include applying the first bonding layer to the second insulating layer. The silicon layer may be processed so as to form a stator, and a rotor may be associated with the stator and configuring the rotor to rotate with respect to the stator.
At least one portion of the second insulating layer may be removed so as to expose at least one portion of the first conductive layer, and a conductive pad may be formed on the at least one exposed portion of the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer may be deposited on the silicon layer.
The cap layer may be disposed on the second bonding layer in an environment having air pressure substantially at a vacuum.
One or more embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. These described embodiments are only examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Like reference numbers in the drawing figures refer to like elements throughout, and reference numbers separated by century, as well as reference numbers with prime notation, may indicate similar elements in other applications or embodiments.
First, a sample configuration of a movable MEMS mirror 10 will now be described with reference to
The movable MEMS mirror 10 may be used in devices such as wafer defect scanners, laser printers, document scanners, projectors, and pico-projectors. The movable MEMS mirror 10 includes a stator 12 having inwardly projecting fingers 13. A rotor 14 is positioned within the stator 12 and has outwardly projecting fingers 15 that interleave with the inwardly projecting fingers 13 of the stator 12. The rotor 14 oscillates about its axis, oscillating its mirror surface with respect to the stator 12.
Either the stator 12 or the rotor 14 is supplied with a periodic signal, such as a square wave, while the other is supplied with a reference voltage. In the case where the periodic signal has an oscillating square voltage, for example, electrostatic forces cause the rotor 14 to oscillate about its axis relative to the stator 12. In the case where the periodic signal has an oscillating square current, for example, magnetic forces cause the rotor 14 to oscillate about its axis relative to the stator 12. Indeed, the movable MEMS mirror 10 may be driven according to any suitable way known to those of skill in the art.
For use in scanning a light beam across a surface, the movable MEMS mirror 10 is driven so that it oscillates at its resonant frequency between two set or controllable oscillation limits. Shown in
With reference to
The substrate 120 may be any suitable substrate, such as silicon. The first bonding layer 118 may be glass frit, polymeric bonding, or oxide. The support layer 114 and interconnection layer 108 may be any suitable dielectrics. The interconnections 112 and terminal 124 may be copper, other metals, doped polysilicon, or other suitable materials. The stator 130 and rotor 132 are formed from suitable conductive materials within a supporting silicon layer.
The support layer 114, interconnection layer 108, stator 130, and rotor 132 can be collectively referred to as a MEMS mirror stack 101 that is anchored to the substrate 120 by the first bonding layer 118. The first bonding layer 118 not only mechanically anchors the MEMS mirror stack 101 to the substrate, but serves to seal against ingress of environmental contaminants.
A recess 116 is formed within the substrate 120 provides clearance and space for the mirror 122 to rotate through as the rotor 132 rotates. Since the MEMS mirror stack 101 is sealed against the substrate 120 by the first bonding layer 118 and an environmental sealing is provided thereby, the recess 116 and MEMS mirror stack 101 define a lower chamber 116.
A second bonding layer 119 is on the MEMS mirror stack 101, and serves to mechanically anchor a cap layer 126 thereto. The second bonding layer 119 also provides for environmental sealing. The cap layer 126, such as glass, is shaped so as to have a recess 134 therein providing clearance and space for the mirror 122 to rotate through as the rotor 132 rotates. Since the cap layer is 126 is sealed against the MEMS mirror stack 101 by the first bonding layer 118 and an environmental sealing is provided thereby, the recess 134 and MEMS mirror stack 101 define an upper chamber 134. Air pressure within the upper and lower chambers 134, 116 is within a threshold of vacuum.
Although the application depicted in
As shown, the cap layer 126 has a width less than a width of the MEMS mirror stack 101 in at least one direction so as to expose the terminal 124 on an upper side of the MEMS mirror stack 101. However, as shown in
Manufacture of the MEMS mirror package 100 will now be described with reference to
Portions 110 of the insulator layer 108 are then etched, as shown in
Next, a bonding layer 118 is disposed on the insulating layer 114, and a substrate 120 is placed on the bonding layer 118, as shown in
The mirror 122 itself is then deposited on the silicon layer 106, as is the contact pad 124, as shown in
The placement of the cap 126, as well as attachment of the substrate 120, are performed in an environment having an air pressure that is substantially a vacuum, thereby producing the upper chamber 134 and lower chamber 116 having an internal vacuum or substantial vacuum.
The MEMS mirror packages 100 shown in
While the disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be envisioned that do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure shall be limited only by the attached claims.
Costantini, Sonia, Allegato, Giorgio, Carminati, Roberto, Vercesi, Federico
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